Most parents want their children to spend time outside, away from phones, TV, and video games, and gardening is an excellent method to accomplish this.
However, new research indicates that there are several other reasons to start a garden with your children.
The advantages range from improving children’s intelligence to making them healthier.
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Ten excellent reasons to introduce children to gardening
Enhances Responsibility
Gardening is an activity that requires a lot of responsibility. Children who participate in gardening learn to take care of living things, such as plants, and understand the impact of their actions on the environment. They learn the importance of watering, fertilizing, and weeding to ensure their plants grow properly. By taking on the responsibility of caring for plants, children develop a sense of ownership and pride in their work. They also learn the consequences of neglect, which can be a valuable lesson in responsibility.
Teaches Patience
Gardening requires patience as plants take time to grow. Children who participate in gardening learn to wait and watch as their plants develop over time. They learn that the process of growing plants is slow and requires patience, perseverance, and commitment. As they observe the different stages of plant growth, they develop an understanding of the importance of each stage and how to care for their plants. Gardening can also teach children delayed gratification, as they need to wait for their efforts to bear fruit.
Teaches Teamwork
Gardening can be a team effort, and children who participate in gardening learn to work together to achieve a common goal. They learn to share responsibilities and communicate effectively to get the job done. Gardening can also be a social activity, where children can interact with their peers and learn to work with others towards a common goal. By working together, children can learn to appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses and develop a sense of camaraderie. Gardening can also help build leadership skills as children take on different roles within the group.
Promotes Outdoor Play
Gardening encourages children to spend time outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Children who participate in gardening can benefit from increased physical activity and a break from screen time. Gardening also provides opportunities for children to explore nature and observe the environment around them. Being outside can also have positive effects on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety. By promoting outdoor play, gardening can help children develop a love for nature and an appreciation for the outdoors.
Encourages Curiosity
Gardening can be a source of curiosity for children, as they learn about different plants, insects, and animals in the garden. By observing and interacting with their surroundings, children can learn about the natural world and develop a sense of wonder and curiosity. They can ask questions, make observations, and learn through hands-on experiences. Gardening can also be a way to introduce children to new ideas and concepts, such as sustainability and environmentalism, which can inspire curiosity and a desire to learn more.
Promotes Creativity
Gardening can be a creative activity for children, as they have the opportunity to design and create their own garden space. Children can choose the plants they want to grow, arrange them in unique ways, and create their own garden art or decorations. Gardening can also provide a way for children to express themselves creatively, such as through painting or drawing pictures of their garden or creating garden-inspired crafts. By promoting creativity, gardening can help children develop their imaginations and gain confidence in their creative abilities.
Teaches self-sufficiency
Gardening can teach children about self-sufficiency, as they learn to grow their own food and become more independent. By learning how to care for plants and produce their own food, children can gain a sense of empowerment and responsibility. They can also learn important life skills, such as cooking and preserving food, that will serve them well in the future. Gardening can also teach children the importance of sustainable living and help them become more environmentally conscious. By teaching self-sufficiency, gardening can help children become more self-reliant and confident in their abilities.
Develops sensory skills
Gardening is a sensory experience, as children can explore different textures, smells, and tastes in the garden. By working with soil, plants, and water, children can develop their sense of touch, smell, and taste. They can learn about the different properties of soil, the scent of flowers, and the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables. Gardening can also provide a way for children to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty and diversity of the natural world. By developing sensory skills, gardening can help children become more aware of their surroundings and more in tune with their own bodies.
Builds confidence
Gardening can be a confidence-building activity for children, as they learn new skills and take on responsibilities in the garden. By seeing their efforts pay off in the form of healthy plants and tasty produce, children can gain a sense of pride and accomplishment. They can also learn from their mistakes and develop resilience and perseverance. Gardening can provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow, building confidence that can carry over into other areas of their lives.
Fosters a sense of community
Gardening can be a community-building activity, as children can work together with others to create a shared garden space. By working with neighbors or classmates, children can learn to communicate effectively, share responsibilities, and develop a sense of teamwork. Gardening can also be a way to connect with the broader community, such as by sharing produce with neighbors or donating to a local food bank. By fostering a sense of community, gardening can help children develop social skills and a sense of responsibility to others.
Promotes lifelong learning
Gardening can be a lifelong learning experience, as there is always something new to discover and explore in the garden. Children can learn about different plants, gardening techniques, and environmental issues. They can also learn about the cycles of nature and the impact of climate change on the environment. By promoting lifelong learning, gardening can encourage children to be curious and engaged with the world around them.
Teaches planning and organization
Gardening requires planning and organization, as children need to decide what to plant, when to plant it, and how to care for it. By learning how to plan and organize their garden, children can develop important life skills, such as time management and decision-making. They can also learn to set goals and work towards them, building self-discipline and motivation. Gardening can be a way to introduce children to the concept of planning for the future and the importance of being prepared. By teaching planning and organization, gardening can help children become more responsible and effective in their lives.
It’s Science
Gardening is filled with science. Plant categorization, weather, soil, and plant pests and disease are all topics covered for children.
They are introduced to botany in a natural, hands-on manner, and recent research suggests that students who had gardening experiences as part of their school curriculum outperformed students who were not exposed to gardening in school on standardised scientific assessments.
Encourages healthy eating habits
Gardening can encourage healthy eating habits in children by exposing them to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. By growing their own produce, children can learn about the benefits of eating fresh, nutritious foods and develop a taste for healthy options. Children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables that they have grown themselves, as they feel a sense of pride and ownership over their produce. Gardening can also provide a way to teach children about the importance of a balanced diet and the benefits of eating whole foods. By encouraging healthy eating habits, gardening can help children establish lifelong habits that can lead to better health and well-being.
They Get connected to Nature
When children garden, they gain ownership of the plants they are growing. My own children have been attracted to the plants in the containers in our patio garden.
Children are less likely to be terrified of touching plants, getting soil on their hands, or being near bugs as they gain information about all the living things in the garden. When they become acquainted with what is in the garden, they are no longer terrified of the unknown.
Dirt Is Good for their Health
Several studies demonstrate that children raised on farms had fewer respiratory allergies, asthma attacks, and autoimmune illnesses than children raised in cities because children raised on farms are exposed to more microorganisms and fungi in the earth.
Allowing children to play in the dirt may make them healthier than keeping them tidy, clean, and inside.
It’s A Stress Reliever
A garden can be relaxing. Not that your Grade 4 is battling traffic, raising children, or dealing with the rigours of a high-pressure job, but even children can experience stress, and the garden can help alleviate it.
In fact, a study conducted in the Netherlands found that after 30 minutes of gardening, subjects who had been stressed prior to gardening had a completely restored happy mood. If the parents in the family are stressed, gardening with their children might help the entire family feel more harmonic.
Teaches Problem Solving Skills
Gardening teaches children problem-solving skills. ‘This trellis doesn’t function very well,’ they say. ‘How can we design one that is better suited to this type of plant?'”
Children in a garden may inquire, “What is eating this plant?” or “Is this tree dying?” When youngsters become engrossed in fixing difficulties in the garden, they want to conduct research to find the best solutions. They become into sleuths, first in the garden and progressing to the computers.
Strengthens Emotional Skills
Gardening teaches children responsibility, patience, perseverance, and how to deal with disappointment if their garden does not grow as they intended.
How do they work together with other siblings, friends, or classmates to do garden tasks?
These are character-building skills that youngsters can learn in the garden, according to studies.
It’s A Physical Activity
Gardening is good physical labour that uses muscles that aren’t typically used. Even the most seasoned gym-goer will admit to feeling achy the next day after working in the garden.
Gardening requires bending, stretching, digging, lifting, tugging, and raking. Gross and fine motor skills are used, and even the youngest gardener receives some physical exertion with easy activities.
Teaches Kids To Care For their Environment
When children begin harvesting fruit and flowers from a garden, they become aware of the garden’s impact on them as well as their impact on the garden. It is much easier to teach kids to care for the environment once they have had this practical experience.
Leads To A Longer Life
Adults who garden in their older years live longer lives, according to studies. Gardeners get off the sofa and be active in nature instead of being sedentary. Teaching children excellent habits while they are young increases the likelihood that they will follow them throughout their lives.
It Doesn’t Need a Lot Of Space
It’s difficult to picture growing a thriving garden when your backyard is a concrete patio or an apartment balcony. However, it is possible to do so in containers.
Choose some environmentally friendly containers with drainage holes at the bottom, fill them with potting mix, and then plant seeds or seedlings. Growing a herb garden on a sunny window sill is another alternative.
A Great Resource For Gardening with Kids
The Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible: How to Grow a Bounty of Food in Pots, Tubs, and Other Containers by Edward C. Smith is an excellent book for getting started with a container garden.
This book instructs even inexperienced gardeners on how to cultivate organic food in short spaces. The book discusses container and tool selection, plant care, and pest management without the use of pesticides.
Flowers and veggies can thrive with a little knowledge and attentive care.
Plant a garden with your child today and watch them reap the advantages for a lifetime.
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